DUBLIN SHC FINAL:DEFIANTLY PROTECTING their lead until the bitter end, Ballyboden St Enda's emerged from yesterday's hurling final with their three-in-a-row intact as well as the first double in the county since St Vincent's 28 years ago.
Such an achievement will be the stuff of legendary memories for the south Dublin club in years to come but in the here and now the match itself was forgettable, with only referee Eoin Mullarkey seemingly unable to bear the end of it, as he played a little more than seven minutes of injury-time.
During that time Craobh had a couple of chances to score the goal that would trim the deficit to a comparatively modest four points but a close-in free and penalty, both from Alan McCrabbe, were blocked and scrambled away.
In the exchanges accompanying these late flurries – before a crowd of about 3,000 – Jonathon McGuirk was red-carded but eventually the whistle sounded and Boden were well worth their win,
Their efforts were spearheaded by Paul Ryan, who scored 1-11 including 1-1 from play, to end the championship with 1-39 representing an average of 0-6 per match. But he had good support around him: Dublin footballer Conal Keaney must have made county hurling manager Anthony Daly’s heart skip a beat with an authoritative display on the wing.
At the back it was a struggle, with Craobh looking lively particularly in the first half and it took steady defensive work by Darragh Spain and Stephen Perkins to hold the show together as well as timely interventions from captain Malachy Travers, whose block on Peter O’Boyle in the 23rd minute prevented a possible goal.
It wasn’t going to be an easy match. The weekend’s rain had made heavy demands on the Parnell Park surface and the county board prudently decided to call off the junior final between Clanna Gael Fontenoy and St Sylvester’s.
The pitch was heavy and with a strong wind blowing, conditions weren’t going to suit the favourites and that’s how it turned out with Ballyboden unable to hit their full stride at any stage as a battling Craobh Chiaráin defence turned their opponents’ attacks into a series of individual skirmishes, many of which they won, with Derek O’Reilly leading the containment at centre back.
The winners managed twice as many wides but ultimately they created too many chances and took them when it most mattered to pull away comfortably.
The goal was the afternoon’s most crucial score, scored with 12 minutes to go as Ballyboden were labouring to put a reflective gloss on the scoreboard.
Ryan finished it in the 48th minute after what resembled an old-style foot-rush with the corner forward on hand to pop the sliotar into the net and double his team’s advantage to 1-14 to 0-11.
Up to this Chiaráin had kept their hopes of an upset alive, with Dublin’s newly-minted All Star McCrabbe, even if his form hasn’t been hectic in the past couple of matches and missing a couple of frees yesterday, still efficiently hitting seven dead balls over the bar to keep Boden in sight.
Afterwards Travers said his team, having had to cope with a semi-final replay during the week and the presence of three players on the club’s successful football side last weekend, had dug in for a battle.
“We were hoping to win the toss because we knew it was going to take a while to settle down in the conditions. The ground was quite heavy as well.
“We didn’t win the toss and knew we were going to need a fast start but we seemed to struggle after going 0-4 to 0-1 up and gave away frees.
“We had a chance of a goal but the referee blew for a free; if he’d played the advantage it was a goal. We just couldn’t get away.
“At half-time we said we’re really going to have to fight this one out, stand our ground, try and win each position and slowly, slowly put it away. I think to a man we did that quite well in the second half.”
Ballyboden will now face the defending provincial champions Ballyhale Shamrocks in the provincial semi-final in a fortnight.
A minute’s silence was observed before the match in memory of Ballyboden stalwart Eamonn O’Sullivan, who recently passed away.
BALLYBODEN ST ENDA'S:G Maguire; J Duffy, S Perkins, A Ryan; M Travers, D Spain (0-1), T Sweeney; S Durkin (0-1), D O'Connor; D Sweeney, D Curtin (0-1), C Keaney (0-2); N McMorrow, S Lambert, P Ryan (1-11, seven frees, three 65s). Subs: M O'Sullivan for A Ryan (51 mins), E Carroll for McMorrow (58 mins), J Doody for O'Connor (60 mins), M Griffin for Sweeney (61 mins), B Kennedy for Curtin (65 mins).
CRAOBH CHIARÁIN:S Chester; Damien O'Reilly, E Farrell, D Shanley; D Kelly, Derek O'Reilly, G Kelly; A McCrabbe (0-7, frees), K Elliott; D Kirwan, J McGuirk (0-1), P O'Boyle (0-1); K Warren (0-1), D Keane, S McDonald (0-2). Subs: J Ryan for Shanley and F Usanga for Keane (both 50 mins).
Referee:E Mullarkey (Lucan Sarsfields).
